Cupressus leylandii named &#39;Madeline&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cupressus leylandii  plant is described herein. The new variety is resistant to fungus and possesses increased growth rate (e.g., height, spread, trunk).

BOTANICAL DENOMINATION (LATIN NAME)

Cupressus leylandii

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Madeline’

BACKGROUND

The Leyland Cypress (Cupressus leylandii) is a fast-growing evergreentree used in horticulture. They are commonly planted as hedges orscreens in gardens as a way to produce a boundary or create moreprivacy. Although Leyland Cyprus is a quick-growing plant, it haslimitations. A major concern of the Leyland Cypress is itssusceptibility to disease caused by fungus. For example, in regions withhot summers, Leyland Cyprus is very prone to the cypress canker causedby the fungus Seridium cardinale, which can ultimately kill the tree.Thus, it would be desirable to have a variety of Leyland Cypress that ismore resistant to diseases caused by fungus as well as other favorableproperties associated with Leyland Cypress. Described herein is a newcultivar of Leyland Cypress that addresses these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar of Leyland Cypress is a sport of acommercially-available Leyland Cypress grown in a nursery in Newberry,Fla. The new variety of Leyland Cypress named ‘Madeline’ was asexuallyreproduced in Leesburg, Fla. by rooting cuttings of Leyland Cypress inpotted soil. Plants grown from the cuttings were subsequently planted in5-gallon containers, with some plants grown in Sumterville, Fla. (USDAHardiness level 9) and others grown in Cairo, Ga. (USDA Hardiness level8). The plant cannot be reproduced true from seed.

Below is a list of distinguishing features of the new cultivar‘Madeline’ described herein when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Sumterville, Fla. and Cairo, Ga.

-   1. Resistant to diseases caused by fungus.-   2. Increased height growth and spread growth.-   3. Dark, attractive green color.-   4. Needle tissue is thicker.-   5. The needle-like leaves are farther apart from one another.-   6. Increased rate of trunk caliper (i.e., thickness).

As shown above, the new cultivar has a number of desirable features. Ingeneral, the new cultivar is resistant to fungus infestation when grownin Sumterville, Fla. and Cairo, Ga. This is a desirable feature in viewof the susceptibility of commercially-available Leyland Cypress tofungus-causing diseases. The new cultivar also grows faster in heightand spread growth by about 30% compared to other varieties of LeylandCypress. Moreover, rate of trunk growth is faster by about 10% comparedto other varieties of Leyland Cypress, which is indicative of a strongerroot system typically not present in Leyland Cypress. In summary, thenew cultivar is a robust plant that has many desirable features notpresent in known varieties of Leyland Cypress.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of Cupressus leylandii ‘Madeline’ in a 200 galloncontainer.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar based onobservations of a seven year old specimen grown in a 200 galloncontainer.

-   Form: Large, dense, and broadly pyramidal-   Height: Approximately 20′-   Width: Approximately 9′-   Trunk: Diameter between 5¼ and 5½ inches-   Needles: Dark green with spacing between needles of at least 0.1 cm    farther apart compared to Leyland Cypress-   Pests: None serious.

1. A new and unique variety of Cupressus leylandii plant named‘Madeline’ as herein shown and described.